Toledo students awarded law enforcement scholarship

Thirteen Toledo-area high school seniors just got $1,000 closer to achieving their career goals. The Toledo Police Command Officers Association (TPCOA) announced the recipients of the Rose Reder Memorial Scholarship award May 13.

As a requirement for the scholarship, which was established in 1999 in memory of Toledo Police Sgt. Rose Reder, the recipients are required to display an interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement.

One of these recipients, Lucas Elfreich, will study political science at Miami University in Ohio next year.

Elfreich said there were two people who inspired him in the field of law enforcement — his grandfather, who was a sergeant in the Toledo Police Department, and one of his history teachers, Corri Helldobler, at Central Catholic High School.

“I always had a deep fascination with law,” Elfreich said. “My grandfather always said, ‘Don’t study what other people tell you to do. Study what you love, what you’re passionate about.’ In my history class, it was just the one subject I always loved. It’s just naturally what it is. It’s what I like to learn about. It’s what I like to read about.”

With the application form, each student was required to submit two letters of recommendation, a transcript and an essay detailing the student’s future career plans.

Rose Reder Memorial Scholarship Chairman Laurie Renz said the TPCOA was looking for more than academic excellence.

“The scholarships are given based on their application,” Renz, who is also a Toledo police sergeant assigned to internal affairs, said. “Students must have an interest in pursuing some sort of studies related to law enforcement — law, police work, or sociology or another area dealing with law enforcement. We’re looking for well-rounded individuals.”

Because the students are presented a scholarship certificate at their local schools, ceremonies are still ongoing with Clay High School scheduled for the evening of May 20 and Lake High School on May 22.